Exhibitor.



PATENTED JAN. 27, 1903.

G. W. FREESB.

EXHIBITOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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GEORGE WV. FREESE, OF CLINTON, MICHIGAN.

EXHIBITOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,322, dated January 27, 1903.

Application filed March 7, 1902. Serial No. 97,092. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE IV. FREESE, of Clinton, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Exhibitors, of whic the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for displaying goods in stores, such as lace curtains, draperies, and the like.

One-object of my invention is to provide a device adapted to exhibit at one time a numher of such articles of goods.

Another object had in view is to provide means for covering the goods after inspection, and to such ends I have devised and constructed an exhibitor having peculiar means for displaying the goods in a hanging position and peculiar means for covering them after inspection, such as will facilitate the displaying of the goods when inspection is desired and returning them to position adapted to be rolled into compact form by a special arrangement and operations of the cover, all as hereinafter fully described, and shown by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View embodying my invention with the curtains or the like drawn out for inspection, and Fig. 2 is a similar view with the goods drawn back and in a rollwithin the cover.

I am aware that it is not new to display lace curtains or the like in a hanging position; also, that goods of similar character have been suspended from rods supported by an overhead arrangement of wires, with means, such as cords, connecting the several rods and passing over rollers in a way adapting the goods to be drawn back to compact position or out for inspection, and do not, therefore, desire to broadly claim such an exhibitor as my invention; but I do think my special means for presenting the goods in position for inspection with my peculiar cover arrangement protect-in g the goods is new and original with me. l

In carrying out my invention I arrange overhead a wire A, extending from Wall to wall or other suitable position, such as projections B from the ceiling.

C denotes a series of rods each provided about midway with a roller D, traveling upon the wire A. The ends of the several rods are flxedly connected by cords E E, as shown.

F F indicate cords passing around rollers G G and with a distant loop formed by the two cords passing around a suitably-located roller H. The cord F has fixed connection with the outer bar C, adapting the latter to be drawn back thereby and pulled out by the cord F and the continuation thereof eX- tending from the roller H to said bar C. The cord F and the end of the continuation of the cord F extending from the roller H obviously must be secured to the outer bar C of the series thereof; but since I make no claim to any particular means for so doing and in view of the fact that the said connection of the cords may be effected by a simple loop connection with the roller D or be otherwise secured to the bar in a manner such as will readily suggest itself I do not deem it necessary to show in my drawings any particular detail means for effectingthe said connection. The inner rod of the series may or may not be fixed. In the rear of the series of rods yC, I suspend from hooks, substantially as shown, an apron or cover I, having at its lower end a slat J.

K denotes cords connected with the lower end of the cover and extending up over rollers L L', arranged, as shown, with the roller L in front of the cover and the roller L in the rear thereof, the ends of the cord K continuing down within easy reach from the ioor. While I have shown each of the cords F F' and K K continuous or in one length, it is obvious that separable cords may be employed, if desired, and some device to which the ends of the cords may be fastened should be provided.

Now with the curtains or the like in astored or rolled condition covered by the apron, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, should it be desired to display the goods it is only necessary to pull the cord F', which extends around the roller H to the outer rod C of the series. Such action, obviously, with the cord K freed, will draw out the rods C, since the series thereof are connected by cords E to extended IOS stored by pulling the cord FQ with effect to draw all the rods C and the goods depending therefrom back into compact position against the apron I. Now to roll up the goods it is apparent that by simply pulling the cords K K the lower end of the apron will be drawn upwardly, turning the lower ends thereof,with effect upon a continued pull of the cords K K to roll the goods until the lower end ofthe apron is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Vhile I do not desire to confine myself to any particular means for fastening the curtains or the like to the rods C in illustrating my invention, I have shown simple hooks on the under side of the rods. While the special means employed by me for supporting and drawing out the goods into position, affording advantageous inspection and restoring them in compact condition, involves more or less novelty, the leading feature of my invention resides in a special cover and means for working it in connection with the other features described for displaying the goods and then rolling them into compact form, covered by the apron in a way to effectively exclude all dust and matter tending to render the goods injured or shop-worn, thereby taking up no floor-space when not in actual use.

In addition to the above points of novelty I would call attention to the increased facility with my exhibitor for showing all the goods and more of each article than possible with similar exhibitors. In having a single support for each bar as employed by me, and due to the fact that all the bars are flexibly connected together at their outer ends, it is apparent that the merchant can grasp the outermost article and by a slight pull swing all the bars on the supporting-wire and, due to the flexible connection at the outer ends thereof, turn all the goods on the exhibitor sidewise, and thereby exhibit more of each article from one point of View. Since the movement at the center of the bars in turning them, as stated, is very slight, the play of the rollers upon the supporting-Wire is ample to permit of the slight necessary movement.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination in an exhibitor of the character described, of goods supporting means, an apron suspended in rear of the goods-supporting means, rollers located above the lower end of the apron, means for supporting the rollers, cords passing over said rollers and extending to and fixed to the lower free end of the apron, the other portion of the cord within reach of the operator whereby the free end of the apron may be drawn up and at the same time roll the goods in compact form, substantially as described.

2. The combination with extensible and retractable goods-supporting means,of an apron located in rear thereof and suspended at its upper end from fixed supports and means whereby the lower end of the apron may be drawn up to cover goods on the supporting means substantially as described.

3. The combination in an exhibitor employing a single track extending from two spaced supports, ofa series of bars each having about midway of its length a roller adapted to travel upon said track, flexible connections at the outer ends joining all the bars in the series, and means connecting the outer bar of the series whereby all of them may be drawn from a closed to an open position and then to a closed position, substantially as described.

GEORGE XV. FREESE. lVitnesses:

WILLARD D. VAN TUYLE, FRED KOERNIG. 

